Ex minister Ron Davies accused of sabotaging mountain cycle path

A former Welsh Secretaryhas been accused of attempting to sabotage an unofficial mountain bike trail after he was caught on video laying rocks and logs across the popular path.

Ron Davies has become embroiled in a row over over cyclists and residents using the downhill route on the Caerphilly Mountain.

He has admitted he is the mystery figure captured in the video, but claimed the footage showed him "clearing" the path instead of blocking it.

Ron Davies Credit:
Huw Evans / Rex Features

Local walkers and environmentalists have complained of cyclists speeding down the train and taking over the path.

But cyclists have accused vandals of planting planted logs and rocks as booby traps, which they say could result in an accident.

Video footage released shows Mr Davies, now a trustee of the Caerphilly Woodlands Trust, on the path and crouched down in the dark.

Ron Davies Credit:
Eddie Mulholland

The former Secretary of State resigned in 1998 following “moment of madness” involving a man he met on Clapham Common.

He stood down as an MP in 2001 and resigned from Labour in 2004 over the Iraq War.

In 2003 Davies was forced to stand down from the Welsh Assembly after visiting a notorious gay sex haunt, where claimed he was just "looking for badgers".

The Welsh Assembly

Mr Davies said: "I've never blocked or obstructed a footpath in my life. In fact, I've unblocked obstructions on a few and that's what I was doing when this covert video was taken. I was actually removing an obstacle from a footpath.

"I have spent all my life walking the footpaths in this part of the world. These woodlands are a treasure - there is a tremendous range of wildlife there."

Ian Clarke, from Van Road Mountain Bikers, said: "I can appreciate that maybe some people don't agree with the way we use the woods, but I think if you're putting other people in danger, that's a problem for us."